“As the panel of three federal judges prepares to issue its ruling on district lines for the Texas House of Representatives, I hope that the judges will take into account the will of the people of Texas as expressed by their elected representatives,” Straus said in a statement. “I, along with many Members of the House, have strong concerns that the initial map released by the court last week goes much further than is necessary to correct any perceived legal defects in the recently-adopted redistricting plan.”

The speaker went on to illustrate the need for a soft-handed approach to what his rivals call a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act. Straus is standing behind claims that the new map is legal, citing interpretations he received from state counsel.

“Members of the Texas House approved a redistricting plan that is fair and that the State’s lawyers have advised us is legal,” Straus said in a statement. “Even if the panel of judges concludes that the new lines violate federal law in some respects, their role should be limited to making as few revisions as possible to cure those perceived defects, instead of making wholesale changes to the duly elected map.”

The Texas Democratic Party responded soon after, saying the speaker’s refusal to take responsibility for the maps and pushing the blame on state attorneys speaks volumes to the speaker’s leadership.

“State employees don’t get a vote on the House floor and they certainly don’t wield the power that comes with the Speaker’s gavel,” said party spokesman Anthony Gutierrez. “This is a transparent attempt to pass the buck on a map, which every reasonable person who isn’t trying to pander to the Tea Party, recognized immediately as a blatant violation of the Voting Rights Act.”